We are pleased to announce that the investigation “Syria’s Missing Children” has won the Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press, marking another important achievement for cross-border investigative journalism exposing violations against Syrians and placing victims’ stories and rights at the center of public attention.

The investigation revealed how the Assad regime detained and disappeared hundreds of children of detainees, separating them from their families and placing them in orphanages and care institutions. Some of these institutions received government funding, while others received donations from UN-affiliated entities.

The investigation was led by Lighthouse Reports and produced through an extensive collaboration involving journalists and local and international media organizations, including Syrian Investigative Reporting for Accountability Journalism – SIRAJ, Women Who Won the War, Al-Jumhuriya, Sowt, BBC, The Observer, Trouw, and Germany’s DER SPIEGEL.

At SIRAJ, we are proud to have been part of this cross-border journalistic collaboration, which brought together journalists and organizations from different countries and backgrounds around a shared purpose: to uncover the truth, amplify the voices of victims, and contribute to accountability for violations committed against Syrians.

The investigation was produced by:

Bashar Deeb, Monica C. Camacho, Charlotte Alfred, Julia Steers, Tessa Pang, Lynzy Billing, Mais Katt, Saleem Salameh, Bara’a Al-Ma’any, Jess Kelly, Haya Al Badarneh, Hajar Chaffag, Rosie Garthwaite, Mohannad Alkhalil Alnajjar, Juliane von Mittelstaedt, Ahmed Haj Hamdo, Ali Al Ibrahim, Manar Rachwani, Mohammed Bassiki, Wael Qarssifi, Mawada Kallas, Hanin Alsayed, Osama Alkhalaf, Isabel Bolle, Alaa Sheikh Hassan, and Zein Khuzam.

Read the full investigation:
“Syria’s Stolen Children: How Detainees’ Children Were Turned into Hostages of War Between Security Agencies and Care Homes”

The investigation is also available through BBC World Service, The Observer, Trouw, and DER SPIEGEL, and you can listen to the story via Sowt’s Shara’it podcast.

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SIRAJ is looking for an editor with deep journalism and investigative experience, strong editorial judgment, and the ability to assess an investigation not only for language and style, but also for the strength of the story, the quality and sufficiency of the evidence, potential gaps, and overall journalistic value.

Responsibilities

• Work with a team of investigative reporters to develop and strengthen investigative story ideas and turn them into publication-ready projects.
• Review investigations at different stages and provide substantive editorial feedback before publication.
• Review key evidence and claims to ensure that conclusions are sufficiently supported by documents and sources.
• Identify potential reporting and methodological gaps and raise questions the reporting team may have overlooked.
• Suggest new angles, questions, and reporting paths that could strengthen an investigation.
• Help reporters deepen their investigations and move beyond surface-level coverage of the issues they are examining.
• Work closely with the reporting and editorial teams during the final stages of an investigation to ensure the highest possible standards of quality and accuracy.
• Contribute, as needed, to developing SIRAJ’s investigative methodologies and editorial standards.

Qualifications

• More than 10 years of professional journalism and editing experience, preferably with substantial experience in investigative journalism.
• Strong knowledge of investigative reporting methodologies and fact-checking practices.
• Strong editorial judgment combined with an investigative mindset.
• Experience working with large volumes of data and documents.
• Ability to rigorously test claims and conclusions rather than simply improve language and presentation.
• Strong critical-thinking skills and the ability to provide constructive, development-oriented editorial feedback.
• Sound judgment about when a story is ready for publication and when additional reporting is needed.
• Strong understanding of journalism ethics, verification standards, legal risks, and source protection.
• Professional proficiency in both Arabic and English.

What We Offer

• A three-month, part-time, remote contract.
• The opportunity to work with a team specializing in investigative journalism and collaborating with international newsrooms.
• The opportunity to help shape investigations with meaningful public impact.
• An editorial environment that encourages critical thinking and the development of ideas, not simply their execution.

How to Apply

Please email info@sirajsy.net with the subject line “Investigations Editor” and include:

• Your résumé/CV.
• Samples of journalism or investigative projects you have edited or supervised.
• A brief cover letter describing your experience in journalism and investigative editing and what you would bring to the SIRAJ team.

Application deadline: September 10, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. Central European Time.

The post SIRAJ Is Hiring a Part-Time Investigations Editor appeared first on SIRAJ.

Based on documents, case files, and witness testimony, SIRAJ’s investigation found that the transfer included Syrians who had been detained for widely varying reasons and under different case circumstances. Among them were individuals whose original detention records contained no documented links to ISIS, but who, after being transferred to Iraq, found themselves facing terrorism charges before Iraqi courts that could carry the death penalty.

In televised remarks published on August 28, Shwani said Iraq had received approximately 5,700 detainees from Syria. He stressed that “not all” of those transferred were terrorists and said approximately 3,000 Syrians would be returned to their country, with the exception of those who committed crimes in Iraq.

The announcement comes just days after SIRAJ revealed discrepancies in the backgrounds of some of those transferred and in the charges recorded against them prior to their transfer. The documents reviewed by the investigation also contained no indication that their cases had undergone an independent, individualized judicial review before the transfer took place.

The announcement marks a new development in the case of the Syrian detainees. Thousands had been transferred from northeastern Syria to Iraq for investigation and prosecution under Iraq’s counterterrorism law, while their families have called for information about their fate and for their return to Syria.

The Syrian Investigative Reporting for Accountability Journalism (SIRAJ) is an independent organization and a leading advocate for investigative journalism in Syria. SIRAJ is a member of the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). Founded in November 2016, SIRAJ trains Syrian journalists and produces in-depth investigations exposing corruption, human rights violations, and sanctions evasion in Syria and across the Syrian diaspora.

The Full Investigation

The post Iraq Announces Return of 3,000 Syrian Detainees Following SIRAJ Investigation appeared first on SIRAJ.

The Syrian Investigative Reporting for Accountability Journalism (SIRAJ) has been shortlisted for the 2026 Free Media Pioneer Awards, presented by the International Press Institute (IPI), in partnership with the International Media Support (IMS).

Launched in 1996, the award honors media organizations that tackle the challenges facing journalism through new or innovative approaches to reporting, or for their resilience in the face of threats to press freedom.

Last year, it was granted to Hungary’s independent media in recognition of their ability to innovate and withstand the constant political and financial pressures they face.

Mohammad Bassiki, Executive Director of SIRAJ, said, “Being shortlisted for the 2026 Free Media Pioneer Award is a meaningful recognition of the work and resilience of the SIRAJ team. In a context shaped by conflict, restrictions, and major challenges for independent journalism, this acknowledgment encourages us to continue supporting investigative reporting, accountability, and press freedom in Syria and the region.”

“This nomination also means a great deal for the future of independent and investigative journalism in the new Syria, and reflects the importance of continuing to support free and professional journalistic voices.” 

The International Press Institute (IPI) was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Vienna, Austria. It brings together journalists and media professionals from more than 100 countries. The institute aims to support press freedom, protect against violations, and promote cooperation among journalists worldwide.

The International Media Support (IMS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2001 and headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. It provides support to journalism and media organizations in sensitive and high-risk environments.

SIRAJ is an independent organization and a leading institution in advancing investigative journalism in Syria. It is a member of the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

Founded in November 2016, SIRAJ works to train Syrian journalists and produce in-depth investigations that expose corruption and human rights violations, and promote accountability, both inside Syria and across the diaspora.

The post “SIRAJ” Nominated for the 2026 Free Media Pioneer Award of IPI and IMS appeared first on SIRAJ.

The cross-border investigative project “Syria’s Stolen Children: How the Assad Regime Turned Detainees’ Children into Hostages Between Intelligence Agencies and Orphanages” has won the 2026 Sigma Award for Data Journalism, presented by the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN).

The investigation was selected among only 18 winning projects out of 543 submissions from 84 countries worldwide.

The Arabic version published by the Syrian Investigative Reporting for Accountability Journalism – SIRAJ was produced by journalists Ali Al Ibrahim, Ahmed Haj Hamdo, Mohammed Bassiki, Charlotte Alfred, Monica C. Camacho, Lynzy Billing, and Haya Al Badarneh, alongside an international team of reporters, editors, and researchers.

The investigation revealed, for the first time, a secret system operated by Syrian intelligence agencies under Bashar al-Assad’s rule, in which children of detainees were forcibly hidden inside orphanages and care institutions in order to pressure, intimidate, and extort their families.

Over nine months of investigative work, the team — led by SIRAJ alongside Lighthouse Reports, BBC World Service, DER SPIEGEL, Women Win War, The Observer, Trouw, and Sout — built a verified database documenting more than 323 children transferred from intelligence branches to care institutions, while families are still searching for at least 3,700 missing children.

According to the Sigma Awards jury, the investigation’s strength lies in “its ability to connect scattered records and personal stories into a clear and coherent pattern, transforming fragmented evidence into solid proof and making a hidden system visible.”

The investigation relied on thousands of official documents issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Air Force Intelligence, and orphanages, in addition to archived records, transfer orders, and security correspondence. The team also conducted more than 100 interviews with families, employees, whistleblowers, and former officials, while analyzing open-source material, legal files, and human rights documentation.

This award represents new international recognition of SIRAJ’s role in producing cross-border investigative journalism that exposes complex violations and documents crimes committed against Syrians through evidence-based reporting, data analysis, field testimonies, and long-term collaborative journalism.

The investigation was published in four languages: Arabic, English, German, and Dutch.

The post “Syria’s Stolen Children” Investigation by SIRAJ and International Partners Wins Sigma Award appeared first on SIRAJ.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has announced that the Syrian Investigative Reporting for Accountability Journalism (SIRAJ) has been shortlisted for the 2026 Press Freedom Awards in the “Independence Prize” category, as part of the 34th edition of the internationally recognized awards honoring press freedom and independent journalism worldwide. 

The winners will be announced on 1 June 2026 during the 77th World News Media Congress in Marseille, France, attended by journalists and media organizations from around the world.

In its official statement, RSF said that SIRAJ was nominated in recognition of its independent investigative reporting since 2017, focusing on exposing abuses committed by the Assad regime and its allies, including investigations into corruption networks, illicit economies, and the trafficking of Syrian resources.

The finalists in the “Independence Prize” category also include Kyrgyz investigative journalist Leila Saralaeva, Argentine journalist Julia Mengolini, Afghan journalist Maryam Naibkhil, and Bangladesh’s independent newspaper The Daily Star.

The RSF Independence Prize honors journalists and media organizations that have demonstrated resistance to political, financial, or security pressures while maintaining editorial independence in hostile or repressive environments.

SIRAJ’s nomination comes as the unit continues publishing investigative reports related to accountability, transitional justice, violations linked to the former Syrian regime, and transnational corruption and Captagon trafficking networks in addition to activating accountability during the transitional period that Syria is going through.

The Syrian Investigative Reporting for Accountability Journalism (SIRAJ) is an independent organization and a leading institution in promoting investigative journalism in Syria. It is a member of both the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

Founded in November 2016, SIRAJ works to train Syrian journalists and produce in-depth investigations that expose corruption, human rights violations, and sanctions evasion, both inside Syria and across the diaspora.

The post SIRAJ Shortlisted for the 2026 RSF Press Freedom Awards appeared first on SIRAJ.

This comes more than a year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the opening of the press landscape to local and international media for the first time since the eruption of the Syrian revolution in March 2011.

According to the Paris-based non-governmental organization, post-Assad Syria saw the greatest improvement in press freedom among all countries and regions included in the 2026 index. It rose from 177th place in 2025 to 141st out of 180 countries, climbing 36 spots on the global index, after having languished at the bottom for many years as one of the world’s most repressive countries for the press.

According to RSF, Syria’s ranking surpassed that of several Arab countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Sudan, Yemen, and Iraq, as well as regional countries such as Turkey.

Mohammed Bassiki, executive director of the Syrian Investigative Reporting for Accountability Journalism – SIRAJ, said, “The new ranking from RSF reflects an improvement in press freedom in Syria, and it is an official recognition by the world’s leading international organization monitoring press freedom of the new reality of journalism in the country.”

He added that this improvement is in fact driven by “Syrian journalists, through their writing and their determination to push for further gains laid out and championed by the Syrian Revolution, as press freedom was one of the most important demands of the Syrian people.”

Bassiki viewed this change as an opportunity for Syrian journalists, both inside and outside the country, to join forces to support press freedom after the Assad regime’s defeat, promote accountability and transitional justice processes, and build greater trust between citizens and the media.

“For us at SIRAJ, this means more work and more investigative reporting to further expand press freedom in Syria.”

On December 8, 2024, Bashar al-Assad’s regime collapsed after he fled to Moscow, ending more than half a century of the Assad family’s brutal rule over the country.

Assad’s fall broke the state’s monopoly on information after decades of dictatorial rule, allowing independent media outlets—particularly Syrian ones—to enter the country and provide firsthand coverage of the situation, in addition to increased on-the-ground reporting by international media.

According to Jonathan Dagher, Head of the Middle East desk at RSF, “Syria’s global record and historical improvement” on the Press Freedom Index was “brought about – evidently – by the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, and reflects an improvement in the scores of all five indicators that we rely on to measure the situation of journalists in the country: political pressures, security, legal frameworks, social frameworks, and economic frameworks.” However, this does not mean the situation in Syria is “good” for journalists today.

He noted that there are major challenges that must be addressed, such as securing justice for more than 280 journalists killed over the past decade, 183 of whom were the victims of the Assad and his allies. The new Syrian government must also provide information on the whereabouts of 45 journalists who have remained missing or disappeared since the fall of the regime.

Dagher also stressed the need for “accountability for violations committed against journalists by government forces and other armed groups in Syria, since the fall of the regime, namely in the coastal area, Sweida, and northeast Syria.” He called for “a solid legal framework that protects the right to information and ensures that journalists and media outlets can work freely, independently and safely in Syria. This applies to all journalists from diverse backgrounds.”

Dagher concluded, “Syria owes this improvement in the score to the courageous and tireless sacrifices of hundreds of independent Syrian journalists and media outlets who continued to work, from Syria and from exile, despite the extreme danger.”

Globally, this year’s “World Press Freedom Index” revealed that, for the first time since it was launched, more than half of the world’s countries have slipped into the “difficult” or “very serious” categories for the practice of journalism. In 2002, more than 20 percent of the world’s population lived in countries where press freedom was rated “good,” whereas today that figure does not exceed one percent.

Anne Boccandé, editorial director at RSF, said, “Effective measures to protect journalists are essential and must be seen as a catalyst for change, starting with putting an end to the criminalisation of journalism: the misuse of national security laws, SLAPPs, and the systematic obstruction of those who investigate, expose and name names.”

“Current protection mechanisms are not strong enough; international law is being undermined and impunity is rife. We need firm guarantees and meaningful sanctions. The ball is in the court of democracies and their citizens. It is up to them to stand in the way of those who seek to silence the press. The spread of authoritarianism isn’t inevitable.”

The post Syria climbs 36 places in Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Index appeared first on SIRAJ.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage project timelines, deliverables, and reporting processes
• Coordinate and communicate with donors; track funding opportunities
• Support the development and writing of grant applications in collaboration with senior management
• Actively participate in weekly team meetings and ongoing coordination to support project alignment, communication, and progress monitoring
• Design and develop new projects and initiatives
• Identify and research strategic partnerships
• Represent the organization in meetings, events, and conferences, and contribute to building external relationships and visibility

Qualifications

• Fluency in English with excellent writing and communication skills
• 3–5 years of experience in project management (preferably in media or the non-profit sector)
• Experience in proposal writing and project design
• Strong organizational, coordination, and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in tools such as GSuite, Dropbox, Slack, Zoom, and WordPress

Preferred (Bonus)

• Knowledge of Arabic
• Experience working on Syria-related issues
• International project management certifications (e.g., PMP)

Location

Remote – flexible, Europe-friendly working hours

Expected Start

May 2026

How to Apply

Please send your CV and cover letter to: info@sirajsy.net

Application deadline: Thursday, May 8.

About SIRAJ

SIRAJ is an independent organization and a leading institution in advancing investigative journalism in Syria. It is a member of the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

Founded in November 2016, SIRAJ works to train Syrian journalists and produce in-depth investigations that expose corruption, human rights violations, and sanctions evasion, both inside Syria and across the diaspora.

The post Job Opening: Part-Time Programs Manager appeared first on SIRAJ.

The investigative report “Scrap Wars”, produced by investigative journalist and colleague Mohammad Al-Bassiki in collaboration with a team of journalists, has been nominated for the European Press Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in investigative journalism in Europe.

The investigation, published across multiple languages and international platforms, explores the link between child labour and armed conflict in fueling Turkey’s steel industry boom. It was published in Arabic on the SIRAJ website, in Spanish by El País, and in English by The New Arab.

The winners will be announced during an official ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal, on June 3.

The Syrian Investigative Reporting for Accountability Journalism (SIRAJ) is an independent organization and a leading institution in promoting investigative journalism in Syria. It is a member of both the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

Founded in November 2016, SIRAJ works to train Syrian journalists and produce in-depth investigations that expose corruption, human rights violations, and sanctions evasion, both inside Syria and across the diaspora.

The post “Scrap Wars” Investigation Nominated for the European Press Prize appeared first on SIRAJ.

The Switzerland-based International Sports Press Association (AIPS) recognized the outlets in its Investigative Journalism category. The winning report revealed how Maher al-Assad, brother of Syria’s former president, pressured the national football federation into awarding a lucrative, no-tender marketing contract to a little-known agency owned by his nephew by marriage. The deal granted the agency an unusually large 35 percent cut of marketing revenues.

SIRAJ reporters Bassel Alhamdou and Mazen Al Hindi spent months securing exclusive documents proving the contract was awarded solely based on family ties.

Accepting the award at the April 11 ceremony, Alhamdou highlighted the severe risks of investigating the former regime. “I want to share this award with family, my wife and children, whom I put in danger because of my work,” he said.

The collapse of the Assad government last December dismantled a massive patronage network, which included illicit businesses controlled by Maher al-Assad’s heavily sanctioned Fourth Armoured Division.

While current Syrian President Sharaa pledged in his January inaugural address to eradicate corruption and favoritism, nepotism remains a feature of the country’s governance. The president’s brother, Hazem Al-Sharaa, currently serves as vice president of the Supreme Council for Economic Development, though the president did order the closure of another brother’s Damascus-based business office last October.

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